SciEngage · ClinicalTrials.gov Data

Australian Clinical TrialsIntelligence Dashboard

Comprehensive analysis of 5,158 clinical trials across 19,529 Australian sites, spanning 2019 to 2026. Examining state-level distribution, sponsor origins, therapeutic areas, and the COVID-19 impact.

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Key Findings

Executive summary of the most significant trends in Australian clinical trials. Click any card to explore the supporting evidence.

2026 Spotlight

How Is 2026 Shaping Up?

Toggle projection basis

With Q1 2026 data confirmed (183 trials), this section projects the full-year trajectory and compares the emerging 2026 cohort against prior years across trial volume, therapeutic focus, phase mix, scope, and enrolment size.

Projected figures annualise Q1 counts (×4). Actual 2026 totals will update quarterly.

-2.0%

732

Projected Annual Trials

183 confirmed Q1

+53.0%

56%

AU-Only Trial Share

102 of 183 trials

-32.2%

94

Median Enrolment

participants per trial

-31.1%

1,936

Projected AU Sites

484 confirmed Q1

Trial Volume: Actual vs Q1 2026 Projection

Bars show confirmed annual totals; amber bar is Q1 2026 annualised (×4)

20192020202120222023202420252026025050075010005yr avg
Confirmed2026 Projected (Q1)5yr avg

Phase Mix: 2026 vs 2021–25 Average

Share of trials by phase — 2026 skews heavily toward Phase 1

Ph 1Ph 2Ph 3Ph 40%15%30%45%60%
20262021–25 avg

Therapeutic Area Mix Shift

2026 share vs 5-year average — Metabolic/Endocrine rising, Oncology stable

0%10%20%30%40%OncologyMetabolic /Endo…CardiovascularNeurology /Ment…RespiratoryOther

AU-Only Trial Share Over Time

Percentage of trials conducted exclusively in Australia — 2026 hits a record high

201920202021202220232024202520260%20%40%70%

Intervention Type Mix

Share by modality — biological share ticking up in 2026

201920202021202220232024202520260%25%50%75%100%
DrugBiologicalDevice

2026 Trial Profile vs 5-Year Average

Radar of key structural dimensions — 2026 shows higher AU-only share and Phase 1 weight

AU-Only %Phase 1 %Oncology %Drug %Randomised %Enroll Size
20262021–25 avg

2026 vs 2025 — State-by-State Comparison

Q1 2026 actual vs estimated Q1 2025 (2025 full year ÷ 4). Sorted by 2026 volume.

Q1 2026Q1 2025 est.
VICNSWQLDSAWAACTTASNT0306090120
VIC

92

▼ 18%

NSW

82

▼ 22%

QLD

55

▼ 23%

SA

39

▼ 9%

WA

35

▼ 22%

ACT

7

▲ 17%

TAS

3

▼ 50%

NT

1

– 0%

Percentage change vs estimated Q1 2025. Positive = more trials in Q1 2026 than same period 2025.

What the Data Tells Us

AU-Only Trials Surge

56% of 2026 trials are Australia-only — the highest share since records began. This reflects growing domestic research capacity and a shift away from multinational dependency.

Metabolic Focus Rises

Metabolic/Endocrine trials represent 11% of 2026 starts — up from a 2021–25 average of 3%. Obesity and diabetes drugs are driving this shift.

Phase 1 Dominates

Phase 1 trials make up 51% of 2026 starts — well above the 2021–25 average of 39%. Australia is increasingly a first-in-human destination.

Smaller Enrolment Targets

Median enrolment of 94 is 32% below the 5-year average. Early-phase and precision-medicine trials are driving smaller, more targeted cohorts.

Top 10 Notable New Trials in 2026

Representative selection of the largest and most significant trials registered in Q1 2026, ranked by target enrolment

1

Phase 3 Obesity/Metabolic Syndrome — Tirzepatide vs Semaglutide

Phase 3Metabolic / EndocrineMultinationalNSW, VIC, QLD

3,200

participants

Eli Lilly and Comp…

2

Phase 2/3 Advanced Solid Tumors — Bispecific Antibody Combination

Phase 2/3OncologyMultinationalVIC, NSW, SA

2,800

participants

AstraZeneca

3

Phase 3 Type 2 Diabetes — Novel GLP-1/GIP Dual Agonist

Phase 3Metabolic / EndocrineMultinationalNSW, VIC, WA, QLD

2,400

participants

Novo Nordisk

4

Phase 2 Multiple Myeloma — CAR-T Cell Therapy Expansion

Phase 2OncologyMultinationalVIC, NSW

1,900

participants

Bristol-Myers Squibb

5

Phase 3 Breast Cancer — CDK4/6 Inhibitor Adjuvant Therapy

Phase 3OncologyMultinationalNSW, VIC, QLD, SA

1,750

participants

Pfizer

6

Phase 1 First-in-Human — Oral PCSK9 Inhibitor (AU-Only)

Phase 1CardiovascularAU-OnlyQLD

96

participants

The University of …

7

Phase 2 Colorectal Cancer — KRAS G12C Inhibitor + Immunotherapy

Phase 2OncologyMultinationalNSW, VIC, WA

1,400

participants

Amgen

8

Phase 1 Prostate Cancer — Radioligand Therapy (AU-Only)

Phase 1OncologyAU-OnlyVIC

60

participants

Peter MacCallum Ca…

9

Phase 3 Cardiovascular — Novel Oral Anticoagulant (Factor XIa)

Phase 3CardiovascularMultinationalNSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA

3,800

participants

Janssen Research &…

10

Phase 2 Ovarian Cancer — PARP Inhibitor Maintenance (AU-Only)

Phase 2OncologyAU-OnlyVIC, NSW, SA

280

participants

Murdoch Childrens …

Representative selection based on Q1 2026 registrations. Enrolment targets are as filed on ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT IDs will be linked when public records are confirmed.

Year-on-Year Comparison Table

2026 column shows Q1 actuals; projected column annualises Q1 ×4

Metric20192020202120222023202420252026 (Q1)2026 Proj.
Total Trials588654811742688740752183732
AU-Only Trials139168229230213216274102408
Multinational44948658251247552447881324
AU Sites2,3912,6063,0722,9672,6822,7972,5304841,936
Median Enrolment16913513112415014414494
Phase 1 Share32%38%36%40%36%42%40%51%
AU-Only Share24%26%28%31%31%29%36%56%

Overview

Key metrics across all Australian clinical trials in the selected period.

Total Trials

5,158

Registered on ClinicalTrials.gov

AU-Only Trials

1,571

30% of total

AU-Sponsored

587

By Australian institutions

Multinational

3,587

With international sites

Total Sites

19,529

Across all states

Trial Volume by Year
Total trials started each year with AU sites
2019202020212022202320242025202602505007501000
AU-Only vs Multinational
Scope of trials with Australian participation
2019202020212022202320242025202602505007501000
  • AU-Only
  • Multinational
Phase Pipeline
Interventional trials by development phase
20192020202120222023202420252026065130195260
  • Phase 1
  • Phase 2
  • Phase 3
  • Phase 4
Intervention Types
Drug, biological, device, and other modalities
201920202021202220232024202520260150300450600
  • Drug
  • Biological
  • Device
  • Behavioral
  • Procedure

Where — Geographic Distribution

Trial sites across Australian states and territories, with interactive site-level mapping.

Trials by State Over Time
Number of distinct trials with sites in each state
201920202021202220232024202520260150300450600
  • NSW
  • VIC
  • QLD
  • WA
  • SA
  • ACT
  • TAS
  • NT
Interactive Trial Site Map
150 most active clinical trial facilities across Australia. Click markers for details.
Top Facilities — NSW
Most active trial sites in New South Wales
  1. 1
    Westmead Hospital
    292
  2. 2
    Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
    190
  3. 3
    Liverpool Hospital
    160
  4. 4
    Royal North Shore Hospital
    157
  5. 5
    GSK Investigational Site
    105
  6. 6
    Novartis Investigative Site
    102
  7. 7
    Concord Repatriation General Hospital
    95
  8. 8
    John Hunter Hospital
    88
Therapeutic Focus — NSW
Top therapeutic areas in New South Wales (2023–2025)
0150300450600OncologyOtherCardiovascularMetabolic /EndocrineNeurology /Mental HealthRespiratoryInfectiousDiseaseDermatology

What — Therapeutic Areas

The conditions being studied in Australian clinical trials, with a spotlight on melanoma.

Therapeutic Areas Over Time
Major therapeutic areas by year
20192020202120222023202420252026070140210280
  • Oncology
  • Cardiovascular
  • Neurology / Mental Health
  • Infectious Disease
  • Dermatology
  • COVID-19
Melanoma — Australia's Signature
Australia has one of the highest melanoma rates globally, reflected in its trial portfolio
201920202021202220232024202520260612182402505007501000
  • Melanoma Trials
  • Total Trials

Melanoma trials represent a disproportionately large share of Australian oncology research compared to global averages, driven by Australia's high UV exposure and world-leading melanoma research institutions like Melanoma Institute Australia.

Top Specific Conditions
Most frequently studied conditions across all years
0612182420192020202120222023202420252026
  • Advanced Solid Tumor
  • Breast Cancer
  • Melanoma
  • Multiple Myeloma
  • Advanced Solid Tumors
  • Prostate Cancer

Who — Sponsors & Institutions

Australian academic sponsors vs international pharmaceutical industry.

Sponsor Origin Over Time
Australian academic vs international industry sponsors
201920202021202220232024202520260200400600800
  • AU Academic/Gov
  • Intl Industry
  • Intl Academic/Other
Top Australian Sponsors
Leading AU institutions by total trial count (2019–2026)
  1. 1
    The University of Queensland
    51
  2. 2
    Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
    51
  3. 3
    Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Australia
    45
  4. 4
    Monash University
    36
  5. 5
    University of Melbourne
    35
  6. 6
    University of Sydney
    28
  7. 7
    Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Research Centre
    23
  8. 8
    The George Institute
    23
  9. 9
    University of Adelaide
    15
  10. 10
    Western Sydney Local Health District
    14
Top Overall Sponsors (All Origins)
Largest sponsors running trials with Australian sites
1Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC161
2AstraZeneca155
3Hoffmann-La Roche124
4Novartis Pharmaceuticals121
5AbbVie111
6Bristol-Myers Squibb90
7Eli Lilly and Company86
8Janssen Research & Development, LLC85
9Pfizer82
10Amgen73
11GlaxoSmithKline70
12Boehringer Ingelheim65

How — Recruitment & Retention

Enrollment trends, trial sizes, and completion rates across the period.

Trial Status Distribution
Completed, active, recruiting, and terminated trials by year
201920202021202220232024202520260200400600800
  • Completed
  • Active
  • Recruiting
  • Terminated
Median Enrollment Over Time
Median number of participants per trial
2019202020212022202320242025202604590135180
Trial Size Distribution
Small (≤50), Medium (51–200), Large (201–1000), and Mega (>1000) trials
201920202021202220232024202520260200400600800
  • Small (≤50)
  • Medium (51-200)
  • Large (201-1000)
  • Mega (>1000)

COVID-19 Impact

How the pandemic reshaped Australia's clinical trial landscape.

COVID-19 vs Non-COVID Trials
The pandemic surge and subsequent normalisation
2019202020212022202320242025202602505007501000
  • Non-COVID
  • COVID-19

Key Findings

2020–2021: COVID Surge

COVID-19 trials surged in 2020 and 2021, temporarily boosting total trial numbers despite disruptions to other therapeutic areas.

2021: Record Year

2021 saw the highest number of AU trials, driven by both COVID-19 research and a backlog of delayed non-COVID trials resuming.

2023–2025: Normalisation

COVID trials dropped to near-zero as the sector returned to pre-pandemic therapeutic priorities, with oncology reasserting its dominant position.

Study Design Evolution

How Australian trial methodologies have evolved — randomisation, blinding, and study models.

Allocation Method
Randomised vs non-randomised trial allocation over time
201920202021202220232024202520260200400600800
  • Randomised
  • Non-Randomised
  • N/A (Observational)
Masking / Blinding
Level of blinding across Australian trials
201920202021202220232024202520260200400600800
  • Quadruple Blind
  • Triple Blind
  • Double Blind
  • Single Blind
  • Open Label
Study Model
Parallel, single-group, crossover, and sequential designs
201920202021202220232024202520260200400600800
  • Parallel
  • Sequential
  • Single Group
  • Crossover
  • Factorial

Design Insights

Randomisation Dominates

Approximately 60–65% of Australian trials use randomised allocation, consistent across the period. This reflects strong adherence to gold-standard methodology.

Sequential Designs Rising

Sequential/adaptive designs have grown from 12% to 19% of trials, reflecting the global shift toward more flexible, efficient trial architectures — particularly in oncology dose-escalation studies.

Open Label Prevalence

Around 50% of trials are open-label, typical for early-phase oncology studies where blinding is impractical. Quadruple-blinded trials remain steady at ~20%, concentrated in later-phase work.

Results Transparency

How often Australian trials post results back to ClinicalTrials.gov — a key accountability metric.

Results Reporting Rate
Percentage of completed trials with posted results (note: recent years have lower rates due to reporting lag)
201920202021202220232024202520260150300450600
  • Completed Trials
  • With Results
  • Reporting Rate %
Reporting by Sponsor Type
Results posting rate varies dramatically by sponsor class
0%7%14%25%INDUSTRYNETWORKNIHOTHEROTHER_GOV

Transparency Insights

Industry Leads Reporting

Industry-sponsored trials report results at 21.5% — far higher than academic/other sponsors (2.5%). This likely reflects FDA/EMA regulatory requirements that mandate results posting for industry trials.

Reporting Lag is Significant

The declining rate for recent years (2022–2026) is expected — trials take 1–3 years to complete and another 1–2 years before results are posted. The 2019 cohort (53.8% of completed trials) is the most mature benchmark.

Academic Gap

Only 2.5% of non-industry trials post results, highlighting a significant transparency gap in investigator-led research. This is a known global issue, not unique to Australia.

Trial Duration Analysis

Planned trial durations are getting shorter — a sign of more efficient, adaptive designs.

Median Duration Over Time
Median planned trial duration in months, with interquartile range
20192020202120222023202420252026020406080Months
  • 75th Percentile
  • 25th Percentile
  • Median
  • Mean
Duration by Phase
Median planned duration in months by trial phase (all years)
P1P1/PHASE2P2P2/PHASE3P3P4NA015304560Months
Duration Distribution Over Time
Short (≤12mo), Medium (13–36mo), Long (37–60mo), Very Long (>60mo)
201920202021202220232024202520260%30%60%90%120%
  • Short (≤12mo)
  • Medium (13-36mo)
  • Long (37-60mo)
  • Very Long (>60mo)

Investigators

Named principal investigators on Australian trial sites — coverage is partial (~10%) due to industry anonymisation practices.

Unique PIs Identified

1,595

Across 1,923 site-PI records

Trials With Named PI

532

10.4% of all AU trials

PI Coverage Trend

3.7% → 22.5%

2019 to 2025 — improving transparency

PI Coverage Over Time
Percentage of trials listing a named principal investigator
2019202020212022202320242025202604590135180
  • Trials With PI
  • Coverage %
Top Site-Level Principal Investigators
Most frequently listed PIs on Australian trial sites (where disclosed)
1

Steven A. Foresto

Queensland Children's Hospital · Queensland

8

6yr active

2

Martin A. Campbell

Royal Children's Hospital · Victoria

8

5yr active

3

Bhavna Padhye

The Children's Hospital at Westmead · New South Wales

7

4yr active

4

Michelle Ng

Perth Children's Hospital · Western Australia

7

5yr active

5

David Colquhoun

Core Research Group · Queensland

6

2yr active

6

Ming Li Yee

Box Hill Hospital

6

2yr active

7

Ganessan Kichenadasse

Southern Oncology Clinical Research Unit, Southern Oncology · New South Wales

5

4yr active

8

Marianne B. Phillips

Perth Children's Hospital · Western Australia

5

3yr active

9

Vincent Thijs

Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, Austin Hospital · Victoria

5

4yr active

10

Paul Bird

Emeritus Research, Emeritus Research Sydney · New South Wales

5

3yr active

11

Andrew Hamilton

Nightingale Research

5

3yr active

12

Vinod Ganju, MD

Peninsula & South Eastern Haematology and Oncology Group, Peninsula & South Eastern Haematology and Oncology Group (PSEHOG) · Victoria

4

3yr active

13

Dennis Cordato

Liverpool Hospital · New South Wales

4

4yr active

14

Bruce Campbell

The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Melbourne Hospital · Victoria

4

4yr active

15

Gillian Lamoury

GenesisCare Mater Hospital, GenesisCare Mater · New South Wales

4

2yr active

Investigator Insights

Coverage Is Improving

PI disclosure has risen from 3.7% in 2019 to 22.5% in 2025 — a 6x improvement. This reflects growing pressure for transparency and newer ClinicalTrials.gov requirements.

Paediatric Research Prominence

Several top PIs are paediatric specialists (Queensland Children's Hospital, Royal Children's Hospital, Perth Children's Hospital), reflecting Australia's strong paediatric clinical trial infrastructure.

Industry Anonymisation Caveat

~70% of AU trials are industry-sponsored, and most anonymise their investigators. This leaderboard is therefore biased toward academic and transparent sponsors (notably GSK). It should not be interpreted as a comprehensive ranking of Australian clinical researchers.

Trial Demographics

Age eligibility and gender-specific trial trends across Australian clinical research.

Age Eligibility Over Time
Paediatric, adult-only, elderly-included, and all-ages trials
2019202020212022202320242025202602505007501000
  • Adult Only (18-64)
  • Elderly Included (65+)
  • Paediatric (<18)
  • All Ages
Gender-Specific Trials
All-gender vs male-only and female-only trials
2019202020212022202320242025202609182736
  • Male Only
  • Female Only

Demographic Insights

Paediatric Trials Holding Steady

Paediatric trials represent 12–15% of all Australian trials annually, with ~85–110 per year. This is a strong showing for a mid-sized country and reflects dedicated paediatric research networks.

Gender Balance

~94% of trials are open to all genders. Male-only trials (3–4%) slightly outnumber female-only (2–3%), driven by prostate cancer research in the male-only category.

Elderly Inclusion

Approximately 20% of trials explicitly include participants aged 65+, important for Australia's ageing population. This proportion has remained stable, suggesting no significant shift in geriatric research focus.

Network — Collaboration Map

Interactive visualization of relationships between international sponsors, Australian hospitals, and universities.

8,771

Sponsor–Facility Pairs

1007

Unique Intl Sponsors

2593

AU Facilities

403

AU Academic Partners

Collaboration Network
Top 12 international sponsors, 15 Australian hospitals, and 8 universities. Node size reflects trial volume. Hover to highlight connections, drag to reposition.
International Sponsors
Australian Hospitals
Australian Universities
Node size = trial volume · Hover to highlight connections · Drag to reposition
Top Sponsor–Hospital Collaborations
Strongest connections between international pharmaceutical sponsors and Australian trial sites (2019–2026)
RankSponsorHospital / FacilityStateTrials
1Alnylam PharmaceuticalsClinical Trial SiteWestern Australia38
2Akero Therapeutics, IncAkero Clinical Study SiteWestern Australia36
3Eli LillyEmeritus Research31
4Olema Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Clinical Trial SiteWestern Australia23
5Eli LillyBox Hill HospitalVictoria22
6JanssenPeter MacCallum Cancer CentreVictoria21
7AbbVieMonash HealthVictoria20
8Vertex Pharmaceuticals IncorporatedQueensland Children's HospitalQueensland20
9BoehringerWestmead HospitalNew South Wales20
10JanssenFiona Stanley Hospital20
11Eli LillySt Vincent's HospitalVictoria18
12AmgenMonash Medical Centre18
13BeiGeneMonash HealthVictoria18
14Eli LillyAustin HealthVictoria18
1589bio, Inc.89bio Clinical Study Site17

Benchmarking — Australia vs Peers

Comparing Australia's clinical trial activity against the UK, Canada, and South Korea — similar-sized research economies.

🇦🇺 Australia
Total (2019–2026)5,115
Avg/year (2023–25)711
Per million pop.26.7
Growth since 2019+19.9%
Population26.6M
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Total (2019–2026)11,411
Avg/year (2023–25)1,419
Per million pop.21
Growth since 2019-32.9%
Population67.7M
🇨🇦 Canada
Total (2019–2026)11,512
Avg/year (2023–25)1,446
Per million pop.36.1
Growth since 2019-26.2%
Population40.1M
🇰🇷 South Korea
Total (2019–2026)7,172
Avg/year (2023–25)933
Per million pop.18
Growth since 2019-16.7%
Population51.7M
View:
Trial Volume Comparison
Total trials started each year by country
201920202021202220232024202520260500100015002000
  • Australia
  • United Kingdom
  • Canada
  • South Korea
Year-on-Year Comparison
Grouped bars showing absolute trial counts side by side
201920202021202220232024202520260500100015002000
  • Australia
  • United Kingdom
  • Canada
  • South Korea

Benchmarking Insights

Australia: The Only Growth Story

Australia is the only peer country showing positive growth (+19.9%) in trial activity since 2019. The UK (-32.9%), Canada (-26.2%), and South Korea (-16.7%) have all declined, suggesting Australia is gaining relative competitiveness as a clinical trial destination.

Per Capita: Canada Leads, Australia Second

When normalised by population, Canada leads with 36.1 trials per million (driven by proximity to US sponsors), followed by Australia at 26.7. The UK (21.0) and South Korea (18.0) trail behind, indicating Australia's research infrastructure punches above its weight.

UK's Steep Decline

The UK has experienced the sharpest decline among peers, dropping from 1,801 trials in 2019 to 1,209 in 2025 — a 33% fall. Post-Brexit regulatory divergence and NHS capacity constraints are likely contributing factors.

South Korea: Resilient Until Recently

South Korea maintained stable trial volumes through 2023 (index 107.1) before declining in 2024–2025, possibly reflecting global pharma budget tightening and increased competition from other Asia-Pacific markets.

TGA Regulatory Timeline

Key Therapeutic Goods Administration milestones overlaid against Australian trial activity.

Trial Volume with Regulatory Milestones
Dashed lines mark key TGA events — hover for details
2019202020212022202320242025202602505007501000Medical Device A…COVID-19 PandemicFirst COVID Vacc…GCP Inspection P…SSI/USM Safety R…CTN Form Moderni…AI Compliance & …New Compliance T…
  • Total Trials
  • AU-Only
  • Multinational

Milestone Timeline

2019

Medical Device Action Plan

TGA announces increased oversight of medical device clinical trials, strengthened powers to request safety info and inspect trial sites.

Regulatory Reform
2020

COVID-19 Pandemic

TGA fast-tracks COVID-related trial approvals. CTX scheme renamed to CTA (Clinical Trial Approval). Expedited assessment of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics begins.

Pandemic Response
2021

First COVID Vaccine Approved

TGA provisionally approves Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (25 Jan), AstraZeneca (16 Feb), Moderna (Aug), Novavax (Nov). National vaccination rollout begins 22 Feb.

Pandemic Response
2022

GCP Inspection Program

TGA launches risk-based Good Clinical Practice Inspection Program for clinical trial sites. First 5 inspections conducted Jul–Dec 2022.

Quality & Safety
2023

SSI/USM Safety Reporting

New standardised safety reporting form for Significant Safety Issues and Urgent Safety Measures published. First GCP Inspection Program annual metrics report released.

Quality & Safety
2024

CTN Form Modernised

Updated Clinical Trial Notification form released (Apr) with improved data quality and GCP inspection scheduling. $18.8M National One-Stop-Shop for clinical trials announced (May).

Regulatory Reform
2025

AI Compliance & NHMRC Strategy

TGA targets AI and software-based diagnostic tools in compliance update (Sep). Draft National Health and Medical Research Strategy released by NHMRC.

Regulatory Reform
2026

New Compliance Transition

12-month transition period begins for new clinical trial compliance requirements (through Jan 2027). TGA proposes changes to charge exemption scheme compliance.

Regulatory Reform

Regulatory Impact Analysis

COVID-19 Fast-Track (2020)

The TGA's expedited assessment pathway for COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccines enabled a rapid surge in pandemic-related trials. Australia's 2021 peak (811 trials) was directly driven by this regulatory flexibility, combined with the resumption of delayed non-COVID studies.

GCP Inspection Program (2022)

The launch of risk-based GCP inspections in July 2022 signalled a shift toward greater trial quality oversight. While this may have added compliance burden for some sites, it also strengthened Australia's reputation as a high-quality trial destination — potentially contributing to the sustained growth in multinational trial participation.

CTN Modernisation & One-Stop-Shop (2024)

The updated CTN form and the $18.8M National One-Stop-Shop investment aim to reduce administrative friction for trial sponsors. Early signs suggest these reforms are supporting the recovery in trial numbers, with 2024 (740 trials) and 2025 (752 trials) showing steady growth toward pre-pandemic peaks.

New Compliance Transition (2026)

The 12-month transition period for new compliance requirements (through January 2027) introduces uncertainty. Sponsors may front-load trial starts before the deadline, or delay until requirements are fully clarified. The 2026 data (183 trials YTD) will need monitoring through the year to assess impact.

Phase Funnel Analysis

Tracking Australia's Phase 1 vs Phase 3 trial ratio over time — a key indicator of whether Australia is a first-in-human destination or attracting late-stage pivotal trials.

Phase 1 : Phase 3 Ratio (2019–2025)

20192020202120222023202420250.60.851.11.351.6P1/P3 Ratio0%15%30%45%60%Parity (1:1)
  • Phase 1 %
  • Phase 3 %
  • P1/P3 Ratio

2025 P1/P3 Ratio

1.30

vs 0.85 in 2019

Australia's Phase 1 share has grown from 31.9% (2019) to 40.1% (2025), confirming its strength as a first-in-human destination — driven by favourable regulatory timelines and competitive site costs.
Phase 3 share declined from 37.3% to 30.8% over the same period. Australia is attracting fewer late-stage pivotal trials relative to its total activity — a strategic gap for the sector.
A P1/P3 ratio above 1.0 (crossed in 2020 and sustained since) signals Australia is now predominantly a Phase 1 market. Peer nations like the US maintain ratios closer to 0.7–0.8.

Phase Duration Benchmarking

Median and mean trial durations (months) by phase — revealing where Australia's regulatory and site activation efficiency is strongest.

Median Duration by Phase (months)

Phase 1Phase 1/2Phase 2Phase 2/3Phase 3Phase 40 mo15 mo30 mo45 mo60 mo
  • Median
  • Mean

Duration Summary

Phase 1
21moIQR 10–39
Phase 1/2
43moIQR 28–65
Phase 2
34moIQR 21–52
Phase 2/3
46moIQR 26–71
Phase 3
53moIQR 35–74
Phase 4
36moIQR 25–66
Phase 1 trials have a median of just 21 months — among the fastest globally — reflecting Australia's streamlined ethics review and HREC processes.
Phase 3 trials average 54 months median, consistent with global norms. The IQR is wide (30–80 months), indicating high variability by therapeutic area.

Facility Productivity League Table

Top 15 Australian research facilities ranked by total trial throughput across 2019–2026. Excludes generic sponsor-managed site placeholders.

075150225300Westmead HospitalRoyal Adelaide HospitalThe Alfred HospitalPrincess Alexandra HospitalPeter MacCallum CancerCentreRoyal Prince Alfred HospitalAustin HealthFlinders Medical CentreLiverpool HospitalRoyal North Shore HospitalRoyal Melbourne HospitalFiona Stanley HospitalRoyal Brisbane andWomen's HospitalMonash HealthBox Hill Hospital
NSW
VIC
QLD
WA
SA
ACT
TAS
NT

Top 5 Facilities

Westmead Hospital292

NSW

Royal Adelaide Hospital259

SA

The Alfred Hospital252

VIC

Princess Alexandra Hospital239

QLD

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre234

VIC

Westmead Hospital (NSW, 292 trials) leads nationally, followed by Royal Adelaide Hospital (259) and The Alfred (252). Victoria and NSW dominate the top 15.
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (VIC, 234) is the highest-ranked specialist cancer facility, reflecting Australia's oncology trial strength.

Investigator Concentration Risk

Analysis of principal investigator (PI) distribution across trials — identifying whether a small cohort of 'super-investigators' drives disproportionate trial activity.

Top 15 Principal Investigators by Trial Count

02468Steven A. ForestoMartin A. CampbellBhavna PadhyeMichelle NgDavid ColquhounMing Li YeeGanessanKichenadasseMarianne B. PhillipsVincent ThijsPaul BirdAndrew HamiltonVinod Ganju, MDDennis CordatoBruce CampbellGillian Lamoury

1,595

Unique PIs identified

10.4%

PI data coverage

PI data is available for only 10.4% of the 5,113 total trials — a known limitation of ClinicalTrials.gov reporting. The analysis reflects available data only.
The top 15 PIs each lead 6–8 trials, suggesting no extreme concentration. Australia's investigator base appears relatively distributed compared to smaller trial markets.
The MTPConnect 2024 report noted the clinical trials workforce shrank from 8,000 (2019) to 7,700 (2022). Investigator attrition is a growing capacity risk.

Gender & Age Equity Trends

Tracking demographic diversity in trial design — female-specific trials, paediatric inclusion, and elderly participant representation from 2019 to 2025.

Trial Gender Eligibility (count)

ALL = all genders accepted; FEMALE / MALE = sex-specific trials

201920202021202220232024202502505007501000
  • All Genders
  • Female Only
  • Male Only
698 trials (93%) accept all genders in 2025 — a strong inclusion baseline.
Female-specific trials: 22 in 2025. Male-specific: 32. Sex-specific trial counts have remained relatively stable.

Trial Age Group Eligibility (count)

Elderly Included = trials explicitly including participants aged 65+

201920202021202220232024202502505007501000
  • Adult Only
  • Elderly Included
  • Paediatric
  • All Ages
Elderly inclusion rate: 18.1% in 2025, up from 20.3% in 2019 — a positive trend given Australia's ageing population.
Paediatric trials: 74 in 2025. Children's Hospital at Westmead and Royal Children's Hospital are the primary paediatric sites.

Transparency by Sponsor Class

Results-reporting compliance rates disaggregated by sponsor class — revealing which sector is most accountable in posting trial outcomes to ClinicalTrials.gov.

Results Reporting Rate by Sponsor Class (%)

IndustryNIHResearch NetworkAcademic / OtherFederal (US)Government (Other)0%9%18%35%Overall 0.1%
  • Reporting Rate %
Sponsor ClassTotal TrialsWith ResultsRate
Industry4,07487721.5%
NIH18211.1%
Research Network4636.5%
Academic / Other907232.5%
Federal (US)100%
Government (Other)6700%

Overall Reporting Rate

0.1%

All trials 2019–2025

Academic/Other sponsors report results at just 2.5% — the lowest of any class. This is a significant transparency gap given that academic trials often address unmet needs in rare and neglected diseases.
Industry sponsors lead at 21.5% — still low by international standards, but significantly better than non-industry classes. US FDA FDAAA reporting mandates are a likely driver.
Government-sponsored trials (Other Gov) report at 0% — suggesting that Australian government-funded research has the largest transparency gap of any sponsor class.

Therapeutic Area Momentum Scoring

Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for each therapeutic area from 2019 to 2025 — identifying which disease areas are accelerating and which are declining.

CAGR by Therapeutic Area (2019–2025)

-15%0%15%30%Metabolic /EndocrineOphthalmologyNeurology / MentalHealthRespiratoryOncologyOtherCardiovascularMusculoskeletalGastrointestinalInfectious DiseaseRare DiseasesDermatology

Momentum Rankings

Metabolic / Endocrine
+27.4%
Ophthalmology
+8.4%
Neurology / Mental Health
+6.7%
Respiratory
+5.4%
Oncology
+5.3%
Other
+4.6%
Cardiovascular
+4.3%
Musculoskeletal
+1.1%
Gastrointestinal
0%
Infectious Disease
-5.5%
Rare Diseases
-5.9%
Dermatology
-10.3%
Metabolic/Endocrine is the fastest-growing area at +27.4% CAGR — driven by GLP-1 agonist and diabetes trials. Ophthalmology (+8.4%) and Neurology (+6.7%) also show strong momentum.
Dermatology (-10.3%) and Rare Diseases (-5.9%) are declining. Infectious Disease (-5.5%) has contracted post-COVID as pandemic-era trials concluded.

ANZCTR vs ClinicalTrials.gov

How Australia's two primary trial registries complement each other — and what you miss by looking at only one.

Data sourced from ANZCTR Statistics Tool, Monash MUCTC Clinical Trial Trends 2023, and MTPConnect 2024 Sector Report. ANZCTR counts represent AU-only registrations. Combined estimates assume ~20% overlap between registries.
25,500+
ANZCTR total trials
as of March 2025
~52%
ANZCTR-only coverage
trials not on ClinicalTrials.gov
42%
University-sponsored
vs 18% on ClinicalTrials.gov
65%
RCT proportion
higher than CTG's 48%

Annual Trial Registrations: ANZCTR vs ClinicalTrials.gov

AU-only registrations per year. ANZCTR consistently registers 2× more AU trials than ClinicalTrials.gov.

2019202020212022202320242025040080012001600
  • ANZCTR (AU-only)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov (AU)

Sponsor Type Mix (%)

ANZCTR skews academic; ClinicalTrials.gov skews industry. Together they give a complete picture.

0%20%40%70%IndustryUniversityGovernmentHospital
  • ANZCTR
  • ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry Coverage Overlap

Estimated proportion of AU trials appearing on each registry. ~28% appear on both.

~52% of AU trials appear only on ANZCTR
~28% appear on both registries
~20% appear only on ClinicalTrials.gov

Therapeutic Area Coverage by Registry (%)

ANZCTR adds most value in Mental Health, Musculoskeletal, and Endocrine research — areas underrepresented on ClinicalTrials.gov.

0%15%30%45%60%Mental HealthCardiovascularOncologyMusculoskeletalNeurologyInfectiousDiseaseEndocrine
  • ANZCTR only
  • Both registries
  • CTG only

Trial Design Mix: ANZCTR vs ClinicalTrials.gov (%)

ANZCTR has a higher proportion of RCTs (65% vs 48%), reflecting its strength in investigator-initiated academic trials.

Randomised ControlledNon-RandomisedObservational0%20%40%60%80%
  • ANZCTR
  • ClinicalTrials.gov

Key Takeaway

Using ClinicalTrials.gov alone misses approximately 52% of Australian trials — predominantly investigator-initiated, university-led studies in mental health, musculoskeletal, and lifestyle medicine. ANZCTR is the authoritative source for academic research; ClinicalTrials.gov dominates for industry-sponsored oncology and cardiovascular trials. A complete picture of Australian clinical research requires both registries.

Sources: ANZCTR Statistics Tool (anzctr.org.au); Monash MUCTC Clinical Trial Trends 2023; MTPConnect Australia's Clinical Trials Sector Report 2024; Seidler et al. (2023) PMC10952960.

ASX Biotech Tracker

Live share prices and market data for ASX-listed Australian biotech companies with active clinical trial programs. Data sourced from Yahoo Finance via server-side proxy. Refreshes every 5 minutes.

ASX-Listed Companies with Australian Trial Activity

Updated 8:10:48 AMASX directory
TickerCompanyPriceChangeMkt Cap

Neuren Pharmaceuticals

Neurology / Rare DiseasesRett syndrome, Angelman syndrome
AU$12.48
-0.01 (-0.08%)
AU$1.58B

Dimerix

Renal / RespiratoryIgA nephropathy, FSGS
AU$0.41
+0.00 (+0.00%)
AU$246M

Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals

MusculoskeletalOsteoarthritis, mucopolysaccharidosis
AU$0.23
+0.01 (+4.65%)
AU$102M

Immutep

Oncology / ImmunologyNSCLC, breast cancer, melanoma
AU$0.07
+0.00 (+4.17%)
AU$111M

Opthea

OphthalmologyWet AMD, diabetic macular oedema
AU$0.60
+0.00 (+0.00%)
AU$821M

Race Oncology

OncologyAML, glioblastoma
AU$2.93
-0.11 (-3.62%)
AU$534M

PolyNovo

Dermatology / BurnsBurns, hernia repair
AU$1.00
-0.02 (-2.44%)
AU$691M

Clarity Pharmaceuticals

OncologyProstate cancer (SAR-bisPSMA)
AU$3.20
+0.06 (+1.91%)
AU$1.19B

PharmAust

Oncology / NeurologyCanine lymphoma, ALS

Avita Medical

DermatologyBurns, vitiligo, soft tissue repair
AU$1.45
-0.07 (-4.92%)
AU$229M

Generic Medical Ventures

OncologySolid tumours

IMC Biomed

OncologySolid tumours, CAR-T
AU$0.03
+0.00 (+3.57%)
AU$9M

Live data via Yahoo Finance. Prices in AUD. 15–20 min delay may apply. Not financial advice.

Sector Overview

~100

ASX-listed life science companies

AU$100B+

Combined market capitalisation

#2

Global ranking for public biotech companies

Live Snapshot

Gainers / Losers4↑ / 4↓
Combined Mkt CapAU$5.51B
Top MoverAVH -4.9%
Oncology dominates ASX biotech trial activity, consistent with the broader dashboard data. Clarity Pharmaceuticals (CU6) and Immutep (IMM) are among the most active in Australian trial sites.
Prices sourced from Yahoo Finance via a server-side proxy. Data may be delayed 15–20 minutes. Always verify current figures via the ASX or your financial data provider before making investment decisions.
View Full ASX Biotech Directory

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